In his file “Millions and Millions of Problems” this morning, the Washington Post’s Tarik El Bashir quotes Caps’ goaltender Olie Kolzig confirming that time is of the essence, that it is a time of “desperation” for this last-place, last-in-the-league hockey team.
We want to know from you how “desperate” you think things are a week before Thanksgiving. The Caps have 10 games between today and December 1. Five of them are at home, five are on the road. Eight of them are against Southeast division foes. Captain Chris Clark is returned to the lineup, power play QB Tom Poti has been back for a week, and the team is missing only Alexander Semin.
What is the bare-minimum tally of points you believe the Caps must acquire during this defining stretch, before advocating perhaps dire measures?
15 Comments
I never thought I’d have to say this so early in a season and it hurts to do so, but if they don’t come out of this stretch alive and kicking it might be time for a head or two to roll - and I’m not talking about heads on the roster.
10 points is .500, which is likely to mean they’d slip against the eight-slot in the East, whoever occupies it. And, they will have completed one-third of the season, probably mire in 13th-15th place if they just tread water at .500 over those games.
Eight of these games are division games, every one of which is one of those “four-point” nights where the Caps could draw two points closer or fall two points further behind in the standings. The other two games are against Eastern Conference opponents. This is the time to make a move. If they win 10 or fewer points, especially if the losses are divisional, then the season is probably pretty much over.
I would think they need no fewer that six outright wins.
All fine points, Peerless, and I understand your reasoning. But based on what from that which you’ve seen from this club thus far can you suggest they can win six (outright, too) of ten?
With enough focus, this team can beat anyone on any night. Without focus they’re doomed.
So the results of these 10 games will be a final litmus test — can Coach Hanlon get the team to focus and play to its potential when the season (and his job) are on the line? I think 11.5 points is a fair over/under for 10 games and will provide the answer.
I’m more concerned with the stretch that starts tonight. they play 6 games between now and next Saturday. 5 of them are against divisional teams. (And of those 4 of the games are against teams within 4 standings points). For me…this seems like the perfect time to make a move. Philly and Carolina are 2 & 3 in the conference respectively…but the other games (Florida, Tampa, Atlanta)…they have to win those 4. At LEAST 3 of them.
If they can’t pull 3 of the next 6…then I think my Turkey leftovers might last longer than Glen.
The question then…who comes in? Who’s out there in the wings that can come in and spark this team now?
I dont’ know, I think they have to go proven at this point if they switch coaches.
They’ve gone with two relatively inexperienced coaches after a long term with a veteran/respected coach. They have success with the proven coach and not so much without.
Everyone loves a mullet. I think we should be looking at Berry “The Mullet” Melrose. Berry has experience with handling star players and playoffs.
I also think if they don’t pull at least 12 points for the 10 games while looking good doing it. I am tired of seeing guys not skating or looking lost. Let’s see some spark and pro calibre hockey or find a coach that can get the fire lit.
The Caps need to pick up as many as they can. It’s time for a prolonged winning streak, and I think they have it in them. At the very least, they need to do well in their divisional games - at least get one point in each of those.
They’ll need to win at least 6 of the next 10, for the reasons mentioned about divisional four-pointers and just the shear number of teams separating us from 8th.
Will they do it? No signs so far that they are capable.
Even last year’s “6 points every 5 games” calculation, for the remaining 65 games, would earn them 91 points, which then might not be enough. You never know now with the OT/SO 3 point game garbage.
PandB…I don’t know whether they can or can’t win six of ten (my gut tells me that they might not win more than half of that). I just think that’s what they have to do to save their season. They do less (even 5-5-0 puts them at 11-16-1…that’s 23 points with a third of the season gone), and there will be more time for holiday shopping, because there won’t be much reason to devote such long hours to following the Caps’ emerging playoff run.
I picked 8 but I didn’t know they had 10 games left…put me down for 10 or more.
I would have posted earlier, but your spam protection quiz was a bitch!
I’m surprised that no one has made mention of the fact that little mention has been made of the fact that 4 of those 10 games (fully half of their season’s intradivision meetings) are against the Cats. So if there is a move to be made, now is the time against one of the weaker sisters.
I believe they will split their 4 games against the Cats, lose to the fiery Bolts, beat the Flyers or Sabres after Semin’s triumphant return, split the 2 with the Canes, and beat the Thrash. That’s 10 points that will be hard fought, and I think if they can do that, I think it’s a start. But we’ll need a huge December.
Gonna be tough, amigos.
I actually think your numbers are light. I think they may need something closer to 14 or 16 points to get back in the swwing of things. No mean feat.
I put 10 or more..but they’ve disappointed me before…I’m hoping they don’t this time.
The Caps need a new coach now. Not after they’ve blown these next 10 games. End of story!
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